Live in the Kenyan wilderness and join our efforts to protect the endangered Rothschild Giraffe and other African wildlife

Share

Do conservation volunteer work in Kenya and help protect endangered animals and local ecosystems. This is an opportunity to see wildlife in their natural habitat, and learn from conservation experts in the heart of East Africa. You’ll be based at the Soysambu Conservancy, where we work to preserve biodiversity through research and monitoring methods.

The major focus of the project is the endangered Rothschild’s Giraffe. Only a few thousand remain in the wild, and a significant portion of the population lives in Soysambu. We need to protect the species before they become critically endangered. You’ll also do hands-on work, like removing alien plants and building waterholes for wild animals. All of your activities are supervised by experienced conservationists.

You’ll live and work in the conservancy, staying in a ranch house with other volunteers. Seize the opportunity to live in the savannah and have the ultimate African adventure!

Price Calculator

Flexi Trips > Kenya > African Savannah Conservation

End Date

Volunteers / Interns

ChildrenAges 3-14(reduced price)

Children aged 3-14 must be accompanied by at least one adult paying full price

We offer discounts for families and groups of friends travelling together. Call us on 01273 007 230 for more info.

Please note this calculator is for pricing information only. You will need to choose your final dates and duration on our application form.

Personalised MyProjectsAbroad website, with all the information you need about your project, accommodation and destination

A free cultural awareness course

Membership to our volunteer social media groups, to share information and to get in touch

Support to help you complete registration or internship documents, if applicable

What's not included?

Visa costs (where applicable)

Flights

Is a wildlife conservation volunteer opportunity in Kenya right for me?

This project is great for anyone passionate about protecting wildlife in Africa, and who has an interest in working in the great outdoors. It’s also a great opportunity to have an off-the-beaten-track adventure.

Pursuing a career in conservation? This project offers a perfect balance between research and doing hands-on work. You will learn directly from conservation experts, giving you a good all-round experience to add to your CV. You can use this experience in interviews and talk about what you learned and the challenges you faced.

This project runs year-round, and you can join from a minimum of one week. However, it is recommended to stay longer, as you’ll get to see and do much more.

What will I do on this project?

As a volunteer on this Conservation Project, you’ll support the work of local conservationists to protect wildlife in the Soysambu Conservancy. Here are some of the tasks you can expect to do during your placement:

Research the Rothschild giraffe and other endangered species

Set up camera traps and study animal behaviour

Conduct community outreaches

Remove invasive species

Maintain waterholes to ensure vital water access to wildlife

Your work will be divided into five main categories:

Endangered species research

Our major focus is to research the ecology of the Rothschild's giraffe and share this knowledge with other reserves. This is pioneering research that could determine the fate of this subspecies, as only a couple of thousand giraffes remain in the wild. Our work in Kenya goes a long way in maintaining a habitat where they can flourish and breed in peace.

Setup camera traps

As animals are very active by night, camera traps help us study their natural habitats, behaviours, and movements. You will be involved in setting up these cameras around the reserve. This will also serve as the perfect way to do mammal inventory. Inventory helps measure the success of our efforts, when counting a populations’ potential growth.

Community outreach

In addition to working in the reserve, you will also participate in a community outreach once a week on a Thursday. The outreach activities vary upon the needs of the community at the time. They could include:

Teaching children about the importance of protecting the environment

Teaching English

Playing sports like football

Building a toilet or oven

Invasive plant removal

Alien plant species are a big problem in Kenya. They destroy endemic plants that provide a habitat for the local wildlife. You’ll help remove these plants. You’ll also help clear and maintain trails to make sure visitors don’t wander off the dedicated paths. This helps protect indigenous plants.

Maintaining natural water holes for animals

You will help maintain water holes and boreholes. This will ensure that water is constantly stored for the animals, and is vital to their survival during times of drought.

Where in Kenya will I work?

Soysambu

During your time in Kenya, you will be based at the Soysambu Conservancy.

The conservancy is located in the heart of the ancient, beautiful Great Rift Valley in Nakuru County. Soysambu is in the Kenya Wildlife Service’s list of endangered ecosystems. This is why we need volunteers to support the work of local conservationists.

You will live with other volunteers at the conservancy in a ranch house, which has been modified into dormitory-style accommodation. Dormitories are separated according to gender. The house has an outside area for activities and a spacious living area for relaxing or socialising. You can choose to have your meals indoors or outdoors, and relax after a long day’s work while admiring the spectacular views.

Please note that electricity is only available in the evenings when the solar power is used.

AIRPORT PICKUP, FLIGHTS AND VISAS

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Kenya Arrival Procedures page.

What is a typical day on this project like?

You usually work five days a week. Depending on the activities, you may be required to start earlier, finish later, or work over the weekend.

Work is divided up among all the volunteers using a weekly schedule. On a typical day you can expect to work from 8am to 12pm. Then, you will have a break with some time to eat, sleep, read and relax. After this, at around 2pm, you will go back out to work in the afternoon, when the heat starts to abate.

Workdays are usually split into physical and non-physical days. You’ll alternate between days for digging, cutting, and general physical labour. This is followed by days for collecting data, GPS mapping, and species research.

Evenings are spent cooking and eating, playing games, and preparing for the following day.

Trained local staff are on hand to supervise activities and provide support, and will accompany you wherever you go on the reserve. You will also be able to take part in workshops designed to teach you about different aspects of the project and the environment.

Since you will be sharing accommodation with your fellow volunteers, you will be able to spend your evenings and weekends getting to know each other better.

What are the aims of this wildlife conservation volunteer opportunity in Kenya?

The aim for this project is to preserve the ecological well-being of the area and ensure the survival of precious wildlife species.

Kenya is well known for safaris and wild animals that can be seen roaming from the roadsides. However, the human population continues to grow. There is an increasing threat of poaching, pollution, and damage caused by residential and commercial development. Reserves such as Soysambu create havens for wildlife and allow wilderness areas to flourish.

With such a wide range of research and practical work being done at Soysambu, you’ll gain a new range of skills. You will also get an increased awareness of the African landscape, its animals, and their ecology.

Our major focus in Soysambu is preserving the Rothschild’s Giraffe. Roughly 5% of the Rothschild Giraffe population live in Soysambu. The research we do is critical to ensuring that the species is able to thrive here.

We also strive to involve the local communities. At Soysambu, we work side-by-side with local communities. This includes running educational programmes and workshops in local schools. The goal is to share knowledge with children about the importance of protecting animals and the environment.

Management Plans

We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.

Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.

Measuring Our Impact

Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.

Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.

Visiting Africa was a dream of mine for my whole life. I remember watching nature documentaries as a child and being enchanted by the variety of animals and habitats in the world.

De-snaring was the most popular activity among the volunteers because you see the results of your work straight away. The snares can leave nasty injuries on the animals so it is our job to remove them.

FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION

You'll stay at shared accommodation with other Projects Abroad volunteers in the reserve. This is a great way to get to know your fellow volunteers and share the experience of living in African savannah together.

The accommodation is safe, clean, and comfortable. Your programme fees include three meals a day.

LEISURE ACTIVITIES AND FREE TIME

Volunteering in Kenya is the perfect opportunity to explore this extraordinary country. With such a vast array of different activities, you’re sure to find plenty of ways to fill your evenings and weekends.

A trip to East Africa wouldn’t be complete without a safari. You can see wildlife like elephants, lions, and even the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe, as you explore the savannahs.

Our projects are based in Nanyuki, which is known as the gateway to Mount Kenya. With this majestic mountain on your doorstep, it’s worth taking a day to hike around the base.

You can spend evenings at buzzing restaurants, listening to live music and trying some of the local dishes. Kenya also has must-see markets, with bright textiles and hand carved sculptures.

You can spend your free time exploring independently or travel with a group. With so many volunteers joining us throughout the year, you’re sure to make some new friends and travel buddies during your trip.

SAFETY AND STAFF SUPPORT

Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on-hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.

Meet the team in Kenya

Carol joined Projects Abroad in May 2013 as the Medical Coordinator for Kenya. She studied medical laboratory science and in her free time she enjoys dancing, travelling and making new friends.

Meet the team in Kenya

Peter Mugwe

Peter joined Projects Abroad as Volunteer & Sports Project Coordinator in August 2014. He was born and raised in Nairobi and will be one of the first staff members volunteers will meet when arriving in Kenya. Peter enjoys travelling, listening to music, watching football and meeting new people.

Meet the team in Kenya

Dennis Gakara Kamau

Dennis joined Projects Abroad in March 2015. He is responsible for overseeing the Care and Teaching projects in Nanyuki, Kenya. Dennis is an outdoor person and loves seeing new things! His hobbies include playing soccer, badminton and table tennis. He also loves reading and travelling, especially on safari!

Meet the team in Kenya

Tonny Kipkurui

Conservation Manager

Tonny joined Projects Abroad in June 2012. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation and is currently pursuing his Masters in Conservation Biology. He started his career in conservation and wildlife research ten years ago and worked and volunteered with Kenya Wildlife Service Research Department in the Masai Mara. When he is not immersed in his work, he enjoys meeting new people.

Meet the team in Kenya

Charles Matankory

Conservation Coordinator

Charles joined Projects Abroad in May 2014, bringing in vast knowledge and over 15 years of experience in conservation. He has previously worked with international organisations including the World Wide Fund for Nature. In his free time he loves listening to music and bird watching.

Meet the team in Kenya

Imane Valsan

Volunteer Advisor

Imane was born in France. After studying history and literature, she decided to travel to Africa. She is always interested in discovering something new and started working for Projects Abroad in July 2015 as a Volunteer Advisor.

Meet the team in Kenya

Jurine Freeman

Volunteer Advisor

Jurine was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa; in 2004, she studied tourism management and human resource development at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. She joined the Projects Abroad team in February 2016. Her tips for new volunteers: always keep an open mind as it takes great courage to step out of one’s comfort zone. In her spare time, she enjoys winetasting, watching movies and series, and keeping fit with her daily workouts.

Meet the team in Kenya

Gabriela Estrada

Volunteer Advisor

Gabriela was born in Guadalajara, she has a degree in Foreign Languages. She has worked as an English teacher and translator for several years and she joined the Projects Abroad team in 2016. She loves spending time with her family and friends, reading, going to concerts and cultural events. Gabriela has had the opportunity to travel through South America and Western Europe.

Not quite what you’re looking for?

Take a look at the following pages where you'll find collections of similar projects: